Nine Summer Landscape Care Tips

For Your Lawn…

Reality time: no matter how drought-tolerant the grass, if you want it to stay green, you must water it. Whether by hand or using an irrigation system, daily watering is the only thing that will keep your lawn green during the scorching weather. The other option is to let your lawn go dormant. While this may not be an attractive option, it is less stress on your lawn, and it will green up again as soon as the weather gets wetter and cooler.

Mow less! If your lawn is dry, it’s probably not growing at its usual rate. Slow down your mowing schedule, or you’ll end up destroying it altogether.

Don’t fertilize. It might seem tempting to feed the lawn during a dry period, and initially you may see some new green growth. But feeding the lawn when it doesn’t have enough water will exhaust the turf plants and result in a dead lawn that may need to be completely replaced. Put this off until the fall.

For Your Garden…

Water when you need to. If you’re doing your garden right, you’ve mostly got drought-tolerant native species that will do just fine with a little extra care. But, if you have some more exotic specimens, you’re going to want to water them as frequently as needed. You may also want to consider putting up a little plant shade to help them get some refuge from the sun during the day.

Mulch. The benefits of mulch in your landscape are many, but one of the best uses is insulating the roots of your plants against extreme weather. Mulch holds water more efficiently than soil, keeping the area around your plants roots moist and cool.

Don’t prune! Don’t cut, shave, or trim your plants while they’re in drought mode. This will on stress your perennials, shrubs and trees, and may lead to their demise even when the weather cools down.

For Your Patio…

(Or Other Outdoor Living Space)

The days are longer, but the sun still might be setting before you’re ready to head in doors. Skip the tiki torches and consider installing some new outdoor lighting to extend the time you spend outside. It’ll last longer, and with energy-efficient brands and a huge variety of designs and types, you can’t go wrong.

Find some shade! Pergolas, awnings and umbrellas make a sunny patio livable even in excessive heat.

When the humidity sets in, you may begin to notice moss and little weed popping up in the gaps in your patio. Power washing and installing new polysand in the crevices will squash that problem quickly.

Bonus Tip: The weather in the summer can be erratic, and storms pose a special threat in the heat. Before you’re in a flash-flood situation, make sure your landscape drainage is up to date and working properly.